“We have to decided to fire the national coach,” read a statement from the Spanish Football Federation president, Luis Rubiales. “What we have achieved in getting here is due in great part to him, and we must thank him and wish him luck.”

“The Spain team is the team of all Spaniards. You can’t do things this way, two or three days before the World Cup. We have been obliged to make this decision.”

The stunning development threatens to destabilise a team regarded as one of the favourites to win the tournament in Russia.

Spain face Portugal on Friday, and will also face Iran and Morocco in Group B.